The latest news in the world of professional soccer, including the US men's and women's national teams, USL, Major League Soccer, Major Arena Soccer League, National Women's Soccer League and North American Soccer League.

Monday, May 31, 2010

Jodie Taylor scored an unassisted goal in the seventh minute and assisted Melissa Busque on her game-winning goal in the 63rd minute as the Ottawa Fury became the leader in the Central Conference, Great Lakes Division of the USL W-League Sunday with a 2-0 win over the host Hamilton Avalanche at Brian Timmins Field.

Ottawa is 2-0-0 with six points to lead the division and will host the Rochester Ravens Saturday.

Hamilton, 0-1-0 with a point, is tied for last place in the division with the Quebec City Amiral, who the Avalanche host Saturday.

Scott Rojo had two goals as the Carolina Dynamo defeated the host Hampton Roads Piranhas 4-1 in USL Premier Development League action Sunday from the Virginia Beach Sportsplex.

Karo Okiomah and Josh Rice added goals for the Dynamo, now 2-1-1 with seven points and is in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, Mid-Atlantic Division. They will hit the road this weekend for games at Reading United AC Friday and the Ironbound Express Saturday.

The Piranhas' goal from an unassissted Mamadou Kone and is now 0-3-1 with a point, tied for last place in the division with the Bermuda Hogges (0-1-1) and the Northern Virginia Royals (same as Hampton Roads). The Piranhas also have road play this week -- at the Ironbound Express Thursday night and at the Central Jersey Spartans this Friday.

Christopher Sanders had a pair of goals, Cameron Vickers assisted on two goals, and Brayton Knapp and Wesley Van Hooser each added a score as the host Tacoma Tide beat the Spokane Spiders 4-1 Sunday in USL Premier Development League action from Curtis High School in Tacoma, WA.

Michael Noonan scored the Spiders' only goal.

The Tide improved to 2-2-0 with six points and are in fourth place in the Western Conference, Northwest Division. Tacoma travels Saturday to face the Abbotsford Mariners.

Spokane is winless in their first five games of the 2010 season, are in last place, and hosts the expansion Washington Crossfire this Friday.

Lucas Joyner's uncontested goal in the 76th minute was all the DFW Tornados needed Sunday to defeat the host Houston Leones 1-0 at Soccer World Center and take over the lead in the Southern Conference, Mid-South Division of the USL Premier Development League.

DFW is 3-0-1 with 10 points and hosts the El Paso Patriots this Saturday.

Houston, meanwhile, is 0-3-1 with a point and tied for last place with the Rio Grande Valley Bravos. They will meet the Laredo Heat on the road this Friday.

Billy Schuler had an unassisted goal in the 18th minute and Reading United AC, currently the best team in the USL Premier Development League this season, shut out the Bermuda Hogges 1-0 Saturday at the Bermuda Athletic Association.

Reading is 5-0-1 with 16 points and leads the Eastern Conference, Mid-Atlantic Division. The United will host the Carolina Dynamo Saturday.

Bermuda, moving to the PDL after years in the USL Second Division, are 0-1-1 with a point and tied with the Northern Virginia Royals and the Hampton Roads Piranhas (both 0-3-1) for last place in the division. The Hogges will play a two-game weekend series this Friday and Sunday with the newly-revamped Ocean City Nor'Easters.

Coming off the bench after halftime, Toronto FC forward Dwayne DeRosario scored two goals to lead his team to a 3-1 win over the San Jose Earthquakes and was named Monday the Major League Soccer Player of the Week for Week 10 and for the second time in the 2010 season.

He last won the weekly honor during Week 5 and is the second two-time weekly winner this season, joining Los Angeles Galaxy forward Edson Buddle, who won this season during the fourth and sixth weeks.

The Chicago Red Stars of Women's Professional Soccer announced Monday they will allow fans who have unused home game tickets for former WPS franchise St. Louis Athletica, which folded Thursday due to a cash flow issue, to trade them in on tickets for Red Stars home games.

Another St. Louis-based team, the St. Louis Lions of the USL Premier Development League, offered the same deal Friday to distraught Athletica ticket holders.

Midfielder Clarence Seedorf scored the lone goal of the game for AC Milan of Italy's Serie A as they defeated Major League Soccer's Chicago Fire 1-0 in an exhibition Sunday at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, IL Sunday.

The game was briefly marred in the 31st minute when an unidentified fan made his way onto the field, approached Milan's Ronaldinho, bowed at his feet, then hugged him before being led off the field by security, disrupting action for a mere 30 seconds.

Rebecca Moros scored a goal off a Christie Welsh assist in the 25th minute and Abby Wambach hit the game-winning shot in a 34th minute penalty kick as the host Washington Freedom slipped past the expansion Philadelphia Independence 2-1 in Women's Professional Soccer play Sunday at the Maryland SoccerPlex.

Washington improved their record to 4-2-1 with 13 points, good to stand alone in second place in the single table standings.

Philadelphia is now 3-3-2 and share that record -- and the 11 points with it -- with the defending league champion Sky Blue FC.

Following the folding Thursday of the folding of the St. Louis Athletica franchise, a revised schedule is set to be announced for all WPS teams this week.

Emily Kittleson scored off a Rachel Gordon assist in the 21st minute and Kara Cooper added a 65th minute unassisted goal as the host Hampton Roads Piranhas rallied from a 0-2 deficit to force a 2-2 draw with the Atlanta Silverbacks in USL W-League play Sunday at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex.

Atlanta scored first in the 11th minute on a Katya Gokham unassisted goal, then Megan Tomlimson helped out Gabi Rivera to post a goal for a 2-0 lead in the 14th minute.

The Silverbacks remain leader of the Eastern Conference, Atlantic Division with a 3-0-1 record and 10 points. They now are off until June 16 when they are at the Charlotte Lady Eagles.

Hampton Roads, at 0-2-2 with two points and in fourth place in the division, host the Northern Virginia Majestics this Saturday.

Kenny Caceros assisted Kevin Struthers on goals in the 34th and 74th minute as the host Ottawa Fury opened their 2010 USL Premier Development League season with a 2-0 win over the Western Mass Pioneers Sunday at the Algonquin College Soccer Complex.

The Fury hit the road for their next two games -- Saturday at the Westchester Flames and Sunday at the expansion Albany BWP Highlanders.

Western Mass, who joined the PDL from the USL Second Division this season, is 2-2-1 with seven points, earning a third place spot in the Eastern Conference, Northeast Division standings. They will host the New Hampshire Phantoms Saturday.

Jamie Cunningham scored two goals in a three-minute span of the second half to lead the Portland Timbers U23s to a 4-0 rout of the visiting Victoria Highlanders in USSF Division 2 Pro League action from Portland's PGE Park Sunday.

It's just too bad Cunningham scored his goals for Portland while wearing a Victoria jersey!

After a scoreless first half, Cunningham had unassisted goals into his own net in the 46th and 49th minute of the game.

Victoria scored its own goals when Michael Nielsen assisted Brent Richards in the 68th minute and Richard Abrego had a penalty kick in the 85th minute.

The victory extended Portland's winning streak to five straight games while Victoria suffered its first loss of the 2010 season.

Portland is 5-0-0 with 15 points and are tied with the Kitsap Pumas (same record) for the Western Conference, Northwest Division lead. They will host Kitsap Saturday.

Victoria, at 4-1-0 with 12 points and solidly in third place in the league standings, hosts the Yakima Reds Saturday.

Etienne Barbara scored a goal in the 20th minute on a pass from David Hayes and Andriy Budnyy locked up the game with a second half stoppage time unassisted goal as the Carolina RailHawks defeated the Montreal Impact 2-0 Sunday in USSF Division 2 Pro League play at Saputo Stadium in Montreal, where Carolina has never won.

Both teams now share a record of 3-2-2 with 11 points and are tied for second place in the NASL Conference, one point behind conference leader Vancouver Whitecaps at 3-2-3 with 12.

The RailHawks next face the Portland Timbers Sunday at PGE Park while the Impact host the Miami FC Blues the same matchday.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Rodrigo Lopez assisted on a game-tying goal in the 78th minute by Stephen Keel, then scored the game-winning goal in second half stoppage time as the Portland Timbers of the USSF Division 2 Pro League got past Argentina's Boca Juniors 3-2 in an exhibition match Saturday at PGE Park Saturday.

Ryan Pore put the Timbers on the board first in the 16th minute with his eighth goal of the season.

Brooke DeRosa had a goal and an assist and Danielle Murino and Kaila Sciascia each added a goal as the Long Island Rough Riders took over the lead in the USL W-League's Eastern Conference, Northeast Division Saturday with a 3-2 win over the New York Magic at Iona College.

Becky Brown and Rashidah Sherman scored goals for the Magic in the loss.

The Rough Riders are now 2-1-0 with six points and face the Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues at Newburgh Free Academy High School Sunday.

The Magic are winless at 0-3-0 and travel to meet the Washington Freedom Futures this Saturday at the Maryland SoccerPlex.

Kristin Garman scored an unassisted goal in the 23rd minute to lead the Atlanta Silverbacks to a third straight win to start their 2010 USL W-League season with a 1-0 victory over the host Northern Virginia Majestics at Robinson Field on the campus of George Mason University Saturday.

The Silverbacks lead the Eastern Conference, Atlantic Division at 3-0-0 with nine points and will travel to the Hampton Roads Piranhas this Sunday.

Jodie Taylor scored two goals and the Ottawa Fury opened their 2010 USL W-League season the same way they've done so over the past eight seasons -- by winning their season opener, 2-0, Saturday to the Rochester Ravens at Marina Auto Stadium in Rochester, NY Saturday.

The win was also the Fury's 99th overall as a franchise and they will look to gain win number 100 Sunday when they face the Hamilton Avalanche on the road.

The Ravens will face the Toronto Lynx at Centennial Park Stadium Sunday.

The Des Moines Menace maintained control of their lead in the USL Premier Development League's Central Conference, Heartland Division Saturday after a 3-1 victory over the Kansas City Brass at Valley Stadium in West Des Moines, IA.

Ryan Hunter gave the Brass their only lead two minutes into the game when he scored off a Chris Markey assist.

Stephen Okai, on an unassisted goal in the 23rd minute, took the game to halftime tied 1-1.

Four minutes after the start of the half, Clark Bradford scored off a Sterling Copeland assist for the game-winning shot, then Luis Piffer had a goal offa Jubril Lawal assist in th 63rd minute.

The Menace are 4-1-0 with 12 points and will travel to the Real Colorado Foxes Friday night.

Kansas City, meanwhile, is 1-4-0 with three points and is fifth in the conference heading into a game next Sunday with the Rochester Thunder.

Moses Aduny had a penalty kick seven minutes into the game, then fired off an unassisted goal in the final two minutes of play as the host Mississippi Brilla shut out the Nashville Metros 3-0 Saturday in USL Premier Development League play at Arrow Field in Mississippi.

Scott Lucky added an unassisted play in the 59th minute to clinch the victory.

The Brilla are 2-0-1 with seven points and are tied with the Central Florida Kraze (same record) for third place in the Southern Conference, Southeast Division and the Metros are tied for fifth in the division with the IMG Bradenton Academics (same record).

Both teams meet again in Mississippi, this time at Harper Davis Field, this Saturday.

Bas Ent scored a goal and assisted on two others and George Davis, Bret Jones and Gijsbertus den Ouden each added a goal as the expansion Dayton Dutch Lions took over sole possession of the USL Premier Development League's Central Conference, Great Lakes Division with a 4-1 win over the Kalamazoo Outrage Saturday at Loy Norrix High School in Kalamazoo, MI.

The Dutch Lions, at 3-0-2 with 11 points, host Forest City London next Saturday.

Kalamazoo, who got a goal when Keenan Flynn teamed with Anthony Colaizzi late in the game, are winless in four games and will travel to the Indiana Invaders on Memorial Day.

John Cocx led all scorers with two goals, Sam Arthur had a goal and an assist and Nick Burton and Chooch Sun added single goals as the visiting Atlanta Blackhawks handed expansion Fort Lauderdale Schulz Academy their fifth straight loss of their expansion season in the USL Premier Development League, 5-0, Saturday at Central Broward Regional Park.

The Blackhawks lead the Southern Conference, Southeast Conference at 3-1-2 with 11 points and are off until June 10 when they host the New Orleans Jesters.

Fort Lauderdale will break out of their winless slump Monday when they host the Central Florida Kraze in a Memorial Day special.

Jonny Brown, Dan Meagher, Ted Kreamalmeyer and Oliver Dyson scored goals to lead the host St. Louis Lions to a 4-0 win at the Tony Glavin Soccer Complex Saturday against the Springfield Demize in USL Premier Development League play.

The same two teams meet again Wednesday in Springfield, MO.

The Lions are 2-2-0 with six points and are in fourth place in the Central Conference, Heartland Division play. The Demize are 0-3-1 with one point and are in sixth place in the division.

The Michigan Bucks charged from behind as they slipped past the Cincinnati Kings 2-1 Saturday in an 2010 Canton Cup tournament game that also was a USL Premier Development League game as well Saturday.

Two minutes after starting from a scoreless first half, Justin Jenkins fed a pass to Steven Beattie for Cincinnati's only lead of the game in the 47th minute.

Then, two minutes later, Michigan took advantage of a Andy Lorea to Kenny Uziogwe pass to even the game at 1-all, followed in the 90th minute by Stefan St. Louis scoring the game-winning goal off an assist by Rubin Bega.

The Bucks are 3-1-0 with nine points, good for second place in the Central Conference, Heartland Division standings, putting them two points behind the division-leading and expansion Dayton Dutch Lions (3-0-2, 11 points). Michigan plays next at the Chicago Fire Premier Thursday.

Cincinnati (2-3-1, seven points) joins the Fire (2-1-1, seven points) in third place in the division and will host Forest City Lodnon Friday.

After Mason Trafford (6th minute) and Ben Hunter (41st minute) scored goals for the Real Maryland Monarchs, Lamar Neagle took charge in the second half, scoring both goals to force a 2-2 draw between the USL Second Division-leading Charleston Battery and the Monarchs Saturday at Blackbaud Stadium in Charleston, SC.

Despite the draw, the Battery lead the league at 6-1-2 with 20 points and has two games this coming weekend -- hosting the Harrisburg City Islanders this Friday, then being at the Richmond Kickers Saturday in a matchup of the league's two best teams.

Real Maryland is 2-3-4 with 10 points and are in fourth place in the standings. They will host the Pittsburgh Riverhounds next Sunday at University of Maryland-Baltimore County Stadium.

Chad Severs scored on a 36th minute penalty kick and Lee Kouadio-Tobey and Tommy Gray had unassisted goals in the 77th and 85th minute to lead the Pittsburgh Riverhounds to a 3-1 USL Second Division victory Saturday over the host and defending league champion Richmond Kickers at the University of Richmond Stadium.

The win snapped Pittsburgh's six-game winless streak to start the season, moving them to 1-3-3 with six points and to fifth place in the single table standings. The Riverhounds next face the Real Maryland Monarchs on the road next Sunday.

Matthew Delicate continued his consistent scoring ways for the Kickers, now in second place at 3-2-2 with 12 points. They will host the league-leading Charleston Battery in a showdown this Friday.

Neil Hlavaty's goal with two minutes left in regulation play gave the host NSC Minnesota Stars a 3-2 victory over AC St. Louis in USSF Division 2 Pro League play Saturday at the National Soccer Centre in Blaine, MN.

Daniel Wison and Brian Cvilikas added goals for the Stars, now 3-7-1 with 10 points and in fifth place in the USL Conference. Minnesota travels to the Rochester Rhinos this Friday.

Luke Kreamalmeyer and Gauchino scored for St. Louis, who hold the worst record in the NASL Conference and the league at 1-7-1 with four points. They are now off until June 12 when they travel to the Puerto Rico Islanders.

Aaron Pitchkolan and Anthony Hamilton scored goals as the host Rochester Rhinos snapped a two-game losing streak and got revenge on the Vancouver Whitecaps, who beat them last weekend at Swangard Stadium, by returning the favor in a 2-1 USSF Division 2 Pro League victory at Marina Auto Stadium Saturday.

The Rhinos are now 4-3-2 with 14 points and are in third place in the USL Conference standings. Rochester next hosts the NSC Minnesota Stars Friday.

Vancouver, who got their lone goal from Ricardo Sanchez, are 3-2-3 with 12 points and lead the NASL Conference. The Whitecaps will look to break the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies' seven-game winning streak next Sunday, then are off until June 9 against the Carolina RailHawks -- both at Swangard Stadium.

Jamie Watson and Maxwell Griffin scored goals to lead the Austin Aztex to a 2-0 shutout of Crystal Palace Baltimore in USSF Division 2 Pro League play Saturday at University of Maryland-Baltimore County Stadium.

The Aztex lead the league's USL Conference with a 6-1-2 record and 20 points and host the Puerto Rico Islanders at House Park Friday.

Baltimore fell to 3-5-1 with 10 points and are third in the NASL Conference standings. They are now off until June 9 at the Miami FC Blues.

Aaron Wheeler scored his fourth goal in his team's last five games in the 43rd minute and leads the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies in points with eight as they extended their USSF Division 2 Pro League winning streak to seven games with a 2-1 victory Saturday over the Puerto Rico Islanders at Steinbrenner Field in Tamapa, FL.

Puerto Rico knotted the game at 1-all in the 56th minute as Joshua Hansen assisted Marco Velez on their lone goal, then Aaron King fed a pass to Takuya Yamada, who scored the game-winning goal and his third of the season in the 83rd minute.

Tampa Bay is 5-1-3 with 18 points and two points behind the Austin Aztex (6-1-2, 20) for the best record in the league and the USL Conference round. They now travel to the Vancouver Whitecaps next Sunday.

Puerto Rico is 2-3-0 with six points for last place in the USL Conference and will host the Miami FC Blues Wednesday.

Dwayne De Rosario proved he can score for Major League Soccer's Toronto FC without having to play in renovated BMO Field as he had two goals in Toronto's 3-1 win over the host San Jose Earthquakes at Buck Shaw Stadium at the University of Santa Clara Saturday.

Chad Barrett opened play with his fourth goal of the season in the 31st minute for Toronto to give them an eventual halftime lead befre De Rosario scored the first of his goals in the 70th minute.

Ramiro Corrales made the game interesting in the 75th minute when San Diego scored their only point, as De Rosario ended the scoring with his second goal of the night in the 94th minute.

For Toronto, the win improved their record to 5-4-1 with 16 points and are tied for second in the Eastern Conference with the Columbus Crew (6-1-2, 20 points). It was also Toronto's first win on the road in 2010 and their third win in their last four games. They travel to the Kansas City Wizards Saturday.

San Jose is 5-3-1 with 16 points and are tied for third in the Western Conference with the Colorado Rapids (same record) and the Houston Dynamo. They take on FC Dallas this Saturday.

Conor Casey scored his team-leading fourth goal of the 2010 Major League Soccer season in the 63rd minute of the Colorado Rapids' 1-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders Saturday at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, CO for their second straight win margin.

The Rapids are in a three-way tie for third place in the Western Conference standings at 5-3-1 with 16 points, the same amount of points the San Jose Earthquakes (same record) and the Houston Dynamo (5-3-1) have. Colorado hosts the Eastern Conference-leading Columbus Crew this Saturday.

The Sounders lost for the second straight time and third time in their last four games with three of their four losses ending in shutout losses. Seattle will host the New England Revolution Saturday.

Major League Soccer's defending champion, Real Salt Lake, got four goals from four different scorers -- Fabian Espindola, Alvaro Saborio, Robbie Russell and Ned Grabavoy -- as they ended May undefeated in a 4-1 victory over the Kansas City Wizards Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, UT.

Josh Wolff managed to prevent a shutout in the 42nd minute with an unassisted goal for Kansas City, now 2-5-2 with eight points and is sixth in the Eastern Conference standings. The Wizards will host the new Philadelphia Union June 10.

Real Salt Lake is second in the Western Conference standings at 6-3-1 with 19 points and faces DC United at RFK Stadium June 10.

Sebastien Le Toux and overall first round Major League Soccer draft pick Danny Mwanga each has a goal and an assist as the expansion Philadelphia Union gained their first road game victory in franchise history, 3-2, to the Houston Dynamo at Robertson Stadium Saturday.

Zach Schilawski scored the game-winning goal unassisted in the 80th minute as the host New England Revolution outlasted the New York Red Bulls 3-2 Saturday in Major League Soccer play at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA.

The Red Bulls were forced to play the final 15 minutes of the game with nine men after Carlos Mendes (55th minute) and Roy Miller (75th minute) were ejected from the contest.

Marko Perovic opened the scoring for New England in the eighth minute and New York countered in the 20th minute with a Seth Stammler special goal.

The Revolution took the lead four minutes later when New York's Tim Ream forget which goalkeeper was his and gave New England an own goal.

Juan Pablo Angel opened the second half in scoring in the 49th minute.

The Red Bulls, 5-5-0 in the Eastern Conference, have lost their fourth straight games since winning five of their first six games and next travel to the Seattle Sounders Saturday.

Carey Talley led DC United Saturday to their second win of the 2010 Major League Soccer season on a unusual 92nd minute penalty kick situation in a 3-2 victory over Chivas USA Saturday at RFK Stadium.

Talley beat defender Dario Delgado for the shot, as Chivas was forced to put Delgado at goalkeeper after officials ejected goalkeeper Zach Thornton and, since they had used all their substitutions for the game, Delgado had to fill the void in the net.

Andy Najar (26th minute) and Adam O'Brien (76th minute) helped DC snap a three-game losing streak with the final score. United has lost eight of their last nine games this season and were shut out in seven of the losses before Saturday.

For Chivas, it was their fourth straight loss during their sixth game of May 2010.

DC, 2-8-0 with six points and the worst record in the Eastern Conference and the league, hosts the defending league champion Real Salt Lake next Saturday.

Chivas is 3-7-1 with 10 points and in last place in the Western Conference. They will travel to Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ Saturday to face the New York Red Bulls.

The Los Angeles Galaxy became the last unbeaten team in Major League Soccer this season and they did so without needing any help from Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle, both set to play for the US Men's National Team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup next month.

Michael Stephens (10th minute) and Tristan Brown (87th) led the Galaxy, the Western Conference leader and the team with the best record in the league, to a 2-0 victory over the current Eastern Conference leader, the Columbus Crew, at Crew Stadium Saturday.

The Galaxy are 9-0-2 with 29 points and will host the Houston Dynamo next Saturday at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.

Columbus, meanwhile, is 6-1-2 with 20 points and travels Wednesday to the San Jose Earthquakes.

Kosovare Asllani scored his first Women's Professional Soccer goal of her career off a Marian Dalmy assist in the 56th minute as the host Chicago Red Stars shut out the league's top team, FC Gold Pride, 1-0 Saturday at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, IL.

The Pride remain the best team in the league at 5-2-0 with 15 points and the Red Stars, at 2-4-1 with seven points, are tied with the Boston Breakers (1-2-4) for fifth place.

The league will release an updated schedule for the remainder of the 2010 season next week, following the folding Thursday of the St. Louis Athletica franchise, leaving the league with seven teams.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Jaime Chavez had two goals and Estuardo Sanchez posted a third as the Hollywood United Hitmen upset the defending USL Premier Development League champion Ventura County Fusion 3-1 Friday night at Buena High School.

Jacob Hustedt kept the Fusion for being shut out when he completed a play assisted by Danny Barrerra in the final mnute of play.

The Hitman are tied for fourth in the Western Conference, Southwest Division standings at 2-2-2 with eight points. Hollywood United hosts the Lancaster Rattlers this Saturday.

The Fusion remain leader of the division, but have lost their last two games and are at 4-2-0 with 12 points. They will host the BYU Cougars at Buena High next week.

Felix Garcia had a hat trick and an assist as the host Laredo Heat pulled off a 6-0 trouncing of the El Paso Patriots Friday in USL Premier Development League play at the Texas A&M International University Soccer Complex.

Orlando Esteban Bayona tallied two more scores and Juan de Dio Ibarra-Trevino had a goal and an assist as the Heat became tied for the lead in the Southern Conference, Mid-South Division, both at 3-2-0 and nine points. The Heat welcome the Houston Leones to town next Friday.

El Paso is 2-2-1 with seven points and are tied for third in the division with the DFW Tornados (2-2-1). The Patriots take on the Rio Grande Valley in Brownsville, TX Saturday.

Ben Callon scored two goals in the first three minutes of the game off assists by Scott Gordon and Tom Settle as the host Baton Rouge Capitals got past the New Orleans Jesters 2-1 Friday in USL Premier Development League play at Olympic Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA.

Carl Reynolds had a goal in the 38th minute for the Jesters, who fell to 1-2-0 with three points for seventh place in the Southern Conference, Southeast Division standings. New Orleans will travel to the IMG Bradenton Academics Thursday.

Baton Rouge (2-0-2) is tied for the division lead with the Atlanta Blackhawks (2-1-2) at eight points and will host the Nashville Metros next Sunday.

Carl Haworth had goals in the 15th and 59th minute to lead host Forest City London to a 3-0 USL Premier Development League victory Friday over the Toronto Lynx at TD Waterhouse Stadium in London, Ontario, Canada.

Luke Holmes scored for London in the 18th minute.

Forest City, at 2-0-0 with six points, is in a three-way tie for third in the Central Conference, Great lakes Division with the Michigan Bucks and Chicago Fire Premier, both 2-1-0, and are all a point behind the Cincinnati Kings (2-2-1, seven) for second place and two points behind the Dayton Dutch Lions (2-0-2, eight) for the division lead.

Forest City will travel to the Dutch Lions next Saturday.

Toronto is winless in its first two PDL games of the 2010 season and is tied with the Kalamazoo Outrage for last place in the division. The Lynx take on the Indiana Invaders on the road next Sunday.

Landon Donovan led a second half scoring surge by assisting on goals by Jozy Altidore in the 58th minute and Clint Dempsey on the game winner in the 75th as the US Men's National Team ended their two-game losing streak in international friendlies and their two-game Send Off Series schedule with a 2-1 victory over Turkey before a crowd of 55,407 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia Saturday.

Turkey took the first half lead in the 27th minute as Arda Turan had an unassisted goal.

The USMNT is 2-3-0 this season in friendlies, but now plan to leave the States Sunday to head to South Africa and prepare for one final friendly game -- next Saturday against Australia in Johannesburg -- before they play in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The US opens Group C pool play June 12 against England in Rustenburg, followed by games against Slovenia (June 18 in Johannesburg) and Algeria (June 23 in Pretoria).

Following the folding of Women's Professional Soccer's St. Louis Athletica Thursday due to cash flow issues, the St. Lions Lions of the USL Premier Development League announced Friday fans can exchange any unused Athletica home game ticket for a $5 ticket to any Lions home game, beginning Saturday when they host the Springfield Demize at the Tony Glavin Soccer Complex.

Friday, May 28, 2010

The Vancouver Whitecaps Women of the W-League announced the signings Friday of goalkeeper newcomers Siobhan Chamberlain, Gurveen Clair and Kristen Funk, and the re-signing for goalkeeper Stephanie Panozzo.

Chamberlain joins Vancouver from the Chelsea Ladies team of the English Premier League, whom she led to a third-place finish in the 2009-10 season and a semifinal appearance in the English FA Women's Cup.

A member of Canada's team at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, she is currently 10-4-2 for her country's national women's team.

In 2009, Clair, playing for the developmental Vancouver Prospects Women, led the team to the Nike Friendship Cup title in Portland, OR and the Pacific Coast Soccer League's Dave Fryatt Challenge Cup in Kelowna, British Columbis.

Panozzo signs for a fourth season in Vancouver. Soon to be joining the University of Illinois this fall, she led the Prospects Women to the 2008 Keg Spring Cup at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, Canada.

Omolyn Davis' second goal of the game, an unassisted play at the one-hour mark, was enough to cause a 3-3 draw between the Washington Freedom Futures and the host New Jersey Wildcats in W-League play Thursday at the College of New Jersey's Lions Stadium.

Davis opened the game with a goal in the 35th minute off a Julia Bouchelle assist. Molly Menchel put the Freedom up 2-1 in the 41st minute off a Holly King pass.

Kylee Ross led the Wildcats with two goals -- off an Ashley Reinerke assist seconds after Davis' first goal, and off an Ali Kliment assist in the 48th minute.

Jessica Fuccello had New Jersey's first goal of the game three minute in off Rachel Breton.

The Freedom Futures are 1-0-1 with four points and lead the Eastern Conference, Northeast Division. They will host the New York Magic June 5 at the Maryland SoccerPlex.

The draw was the opening game of the season for the Wildcats, who begin their 2010 home season June 6 against the Long Island Rough Riders at St. John Vianney High School.

Matt Van Houten scored a hat trick and Ryan Luke posted two goals as the host Washington Crossfire defeated the Spokane Spiders 7-2 Thursday in USL Premier Development League play at Interbay Stadium.

Charlie Piehler had a goal and an assist for the debuting Crossfire and Nick James added a goal as Washington broke a two-game losing streak and are now 1-2-0 with three points, good for fourth place in the Western Conference, Northwest Division. They will next host the Yakima Reds Sunday.

Nicholas Lane scored both goals for the Spiders, now 0-4-0 and in last place in the division. Spokane will hope to get their first win of the season Sunday against the Tacoma Tide.

Gonzalo De Mujica, Jonathan Mendoza Valezuela and Serge Raad each had a goal and an assist as the host Central Florida Kraze shut out the Atlanta Blackhawks, current leaders of the USL Premier Development League's Southern Conference, Southeast Division 5-0 Thursday at Showalter Stadium in Winter Park, FL.

John Bayrom Sosa and Adam New added additional goals as the Kraze improved their record to 2-0-1 with seven points and tied them for second place in the division with the Mississippi Brilla (same record).

The Blackhawks retain the division lead by one point at 2-1-2 with eight points.

Both teams travel to expansion Fort Lauderdale Schultz Academy for games this weekend -- against Atlanta Saturday and versus Central Florida on Memorial Day.

The US Men's National Team are scheduled to play their first game following completion of the 2010 FIFA World Cup against Brazil August 10 in an international friendly at New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ, according to The Washington Times Friday.

The game would fall on a FIFA-deemed international fixture date, which would mean US team members playing on foreign team rosters must be released to return to their country and play in the game.

Forward Alexa Newfield, a high school senior who scored a goal and assisted on two others as the Atlanta Silverbacks shut out the Tampa Bay Hellenic 3-0 May 22, was named Thursday the first United Soccer Leagues W-League Player of the Week.

Here are the other players who earned recognition through the USL W-League Team of the Week:

USL W-LEAGUE TEAM OF THE WEEKGOALKEEPERSarah Fioini, London GryphonsHad 14 saves in scoreless draw with Kalamazoo Outrage

FC Dallas and the Chicago Fire played to a 1-1 draw in Major League Soccer play Thursday at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, IL.

David Ferreira scored for Dallas in the sixth minute en route to the team playing in their sixth draw in 10 league games this season. Dallas is also on a three-game winless streak.

At 2-2-6 with 12 points, Dallas is tied with the Seattle Sounders (3-4-3) for sixth place in the Western Conference and next plays the San Jose Earthquakes at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, TX June 5.

Chicago, who got their goal in the 40th minute from Brian McBride, ended the month of May with a record of 0-1-3. At 2-3-4 with 10 points on the season, they are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings. The Fire host the expansion Philadelphia Union June 5.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Women's Professional Soccer announced Thursday the termination of the St. Louis Athletica franchise after its ownership group, St. Louis Soccer United, developed a cash flow shortage, leaving them without funds to operate their teams.

St. Louis Soccer United also own AC St. Louis of the USSF Division 2 Pro League but, as this time, there is no official word of that franchise folding.

WPS was made aware two weeks ago the group was having financial problems and agreed to cover paychecks of all players and staff, but SLSU determined they could not stabilize their situation and chose to fold.

All Athletica players will become immediate free agents as of Tuesday and any player that gets signed by another WPS franchise will still be eligible to play in the league's All-Star Game.

The league will also release a revised schedule for the remainder of the season next week.

The Athletica were scheduled to play the expansion Atlanta Beat Saturday in Kennesaw, GA.

St. Louis is the second WPS franchise to fold in the league's brief history, following the loss of the 2009 regular season champion Los Angeles Sol prior to the start of the 2010 season, due to the inability to find new local ownership of the team.

Chris Pontius assisted on a Luciano Emilio in the 20th minute, then scored off a Santino Quaranta corner kick ten minutes later as Major League Soccer's DC United defeated AC Milan of Italy's Serie A 3-2 in an exhibition Wednesday at RFK Stadium.

Milan got both their goals of Massimo Oddo, who scored them in a late four-minute span of the second half.

United played the final 25 minutes of the game with 10 men as substitute midfielder Brandon Barklage was taken off the field on a stretcher due to an ankle injury. Team doctors were set to do an MRI on the ankle Thursday to determine the injury's severity.

The Portland Timbers of the USSF Division 2 Pro League announced Thursday they will play Mexico's Club Deportivo Atlas in a fundraising exhibition game July 11 at PGE Park.

Part of the proceeds from the game will go to benefit the Jardin Portland Foundation, which is working to construct an enviromentally-friendly Learning Center in Guadalajara, one of Portland's numerous sister cities.

John Stamatis scored a game-winning goal off a pass from Mark Wiltse in the 82nd minute as the expansion Central Jersey Spartans edged the Ocean City Nor'Easters (formerly Ocean City Barons) 2-1 in United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League play Wednesday at the College of New Jersey.

The Spartans opened the game with a 28th minute goal by Ryan Finley off Jerry Saintil.

Byron Carmichael had an unassisted goal in the 88th minute for the Nor'Easters.

The Spartans are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, Mid-Atlantic Division with a 1-2-1 record and four points.

Ocean City is 0-2-2 with two points and in sixth place in th division.

Both teams return to action June 4 -- Central Jersey hosting the Hampton Roads Piranhas, Ocen City traveling to the Bermuda Hogges, formerly of USL Second Division.

Luke Holmes scored two goals and Scott Bibby added another as Forest City London opened their 2010 United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League season Wednesday with a 3-0 shutout of the Toronto Lynx at Centennial Park Stadium in Toronto.

Both teams will meet again Friday, this time at TD Waterhouse Stadium in London.

Forest City London (1-0-0, three points) are now tied with the Cleveland Internationals (1-2-0) for sixth place in the Central Conference, Great Lakes Division.

The Lynx (0-1-0) are tied for last place in the division with the Kalamazoo Outrage (0-3-0).

Major League Soccer and the Federation Mexicana de Futbol announced the teams, groupings and first round matchups Thursday for the fourth annual SuperLiga tournament, which pits the four best teams from each league for a chance to win $1 million.

The eight teams will play in a round-robin format for the first round, which runs from July 14-21, with the top two teams from each group moving on to the single-elimination semifinals, then the championship game.

Teams participating for MLS are the top four teams in the league from the 2009 season who are not committed to playing in the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League -- the Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, Houston Dynamo and New England Revolution.

For Mexico, their chosen teams -- Pachuca, Monarcas Morelia, Puebla and UNAM Tigres -- were named based on combined points from the 2009 Apertura and Clausura seasons.

The groupings of the teams involved will be as follows:

Group AChivas USA, Houston Dynamo, Pachuca, Puebla

Group BChicago Fire, Morelia, New England Revolution, UNAM Pumas

Mexican teams have won two of the first three SuperLigas (Pachuca - 2007, UNAM Tigres - 2009) with every championship decided on penalty kicks. The Revolution won the 2008 event.

All games in the group stage will be televised by Univision and aired on ESPN Deportes radio.

Thanks to a 1-1 draw Wednesday between two members of the USSF Division 2 Pro League -- the Vancouver Whitecaps and the host Montreal Impact at Saputo Stadium in Montreal -- Major League Soccer's Toronto FC will once again lay claim to the Voyaguers Cup, signifying the champion of the three-team Nutrilite Canadian Championship and giving them Canada's official spot in the field for the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League.

Ansu Torre scored first for Vancouver, but Philippe Bibby countered with a goal for the Impact in the draw.

The draw was Vancouver's third of the tournament and extended Montreal's winless streak in the tournament done to 0-5-3 in their last eight games.

John Wolyniec had two goals and Conor Chinn added a third as the New York Red Bulls shut out fellow Major League Soccer foe, the Colorado Rapids, 3-0 Wednesday at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ and earned a berth in the third round of the 2010 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup tournament.

Both teams return to MLS play Saturday -- Red Bulls at New England Revolution, Rapids hosting the Seattle Sounders.

The Vancouver Whitecaps Women of the United Soccer League's W-League announced the bolstering of their 2010 roster Wednesday with three former Canadian Women's National Team players -- forward Melissa Tancredi and defenders Melanie Booth and Robyn Gayle.

Tancredi played for the St. Louis Athletica in Women's Professional Soccer in the league's debut season of 2009, starting 10 of 15 games. She has nine goals in 43 appearances for the Canadian Women's National Team.

She is also a graduate of Notre Dame, where she had 15 goals and 10 assists in 65 career games with the Irish.

Booth has a goal and three assists in 44 career games with the CWNT and played in 2009 in the W-League for the Boston Renegades, where she played in 10 games. At the University of Florida from 2003 to 2007, she had eight goals and 21 assists for 37 points in 86 career games. For Canada's womens team, she has one goal and three assists in 44 games.

Gayle played 11 games in the W-League for the defending Midwest Division champion FC Indiana Lionesses in 2009 and did not register a point. She debuted with the Canadian national team in June 2006.

The Austin Aztex of the USSF Division 2 Pro League defeated the Miami FC Blues, 3-1, Wednesday and extended their dominance withn teams.

Austin scored on goals by Yordany Alvarez (10') and Eddie Johnson (40'), and got an own goal from Kyle Veris of Miami in the 27th minute to clinch the win and improve their standing in the league. The Aztex's record is now 5-1-2 with 17 points and leads the USL Conference. They will travel to Crystal Palace Baltimore Saturday.

Paulo Araunjo, Jr. scored his fourth goal of our sesason pass.

Miami FC is now 1-1-5 with eight points and are tied for fourth place in the NASL Conference with the Carolina Railhawks (2-2-2). After having Memorial Day weekend off, the Blues will head to Bayamon, Puerto Rico June 2 to face the Islanders.

Daniel Paladini's goal in the final minute of regulation play gave the Carolina RailHawks a 2-1 win Wednesday in USSF Division 2 Pro League action from Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, where the RailHawks have never won there.

Josh Gardner assisted Sallieu Bundi on Carolina's first goal in the fifth minute, which held through halftime, until the 90th minute when David Horst connected with David Foley on a goal that tied the game at 1-1.

Carolina is 2-2-2 with eight points, tying them for fourth in the NASL Conference standngs with the Miami FC Blues (1-1-5). The RailHawks take on the Montreal Impact Sunday at Saputo Stadium Sunday.

Puerto Rico is 2-2-0 with six points and are in last place in the USL Conference. The Islanders travel to Steinbrenner Field Saturday to face the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

FC Edmonton, set to join the North American Soccer League when it gets permission to become a Second Division Professional League in 2011 by the US Soccer Federation, announced Wednesday they will play a five-game, all-home-game exhibition schedule at Foote Field in Edmonton.

Bradley Barraclough scored in the 18th minute off a Louis Albert pass and Branden Stelmak sewed up victory in the 43rd minute as the Cincinnati Kings defeated the host Chicago Fire 2-1 in United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League play Tuesday at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, CT.

The Kings now are tied with the expansion Dayton Dutch Lions for the lead in the USL PDL Central Conference, Great Lakes Division at 2-2-1 with seven points. They travel Saturday to Pontiac, MI to take on the Michigan Bucks, who are tied for third with the Fire in the same division at 2-1-0 with six and take on the Cleveland Internationals at Pinnacle Sports in Cincinnati Saturday.

Forward Dominic Reinold, who had three goals, including two game-winners, in a two-game road trip for the New Jersey Rangers last weekend, was named Wednesday the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League Player of the Week for Week 3 of the 2010 season.

The Rangers have already surpassed the win total of their inaugural campaign in 2009 at 3-1-0 with nine points, good for second place in the PDL's Eastern Conference, Mid-Atlantic Division, three points behind the co-leading Reading United AC and Ironbound Express, both 4-0-0 with 12 points.

On Saturday, Reinold had his first game-winning goal off a Steven Keker assist in the 63rd minute of a 1-0 game at the Hampton Roads Piranhas.

Sunday, in a 3-2 win at the Northern Virginia Royals, he scored in the 75th minute off Samson Malijani and in the 90th minute from Gregorio Pacheco.

Here are the other players named to the USL PDL Team of the Week:

USL 2 TEAM OF THE WEEKGOALKEEPERJake Gleeson, Portland Timbers U-23sHad 15 saves combined in three shutout victories last weekend

DEFENDERSMark Lee, Kitsap PumasScored a goal and lead team to fourth straight shutout in 2-0 win over Washington Crossfire

With the 2010 World Cup starting soon, most of the previous month's top 10 teams in the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola World Rankings remained unchanged in the results announced Wednesday.

The top eight teams -- Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Argentina and England -- held firm to their spots while France moved up a spot from last month to be ranked ninth and Croatia did the reverse, falling to tenth.

The US held firm, as well, to the last ranking -- 14th -- heading into World Cup pool play June 12.

Following the team's 4-3 loss to the Czech Republic in East Harrford, CT, the US Men's National Team needed to make tough decisions on who would be part of our country's team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and, Wednesday, those decisions were made and the final 23-man roster was announced.

The men, survivors of a preliminary 30-man roster announced last week, are now practicing in Philadelphia for their next international friendly Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field against Turkey, then will leave the country Sunday for South Africa to begin Cup preparations.

Those preparations also include an exhibition game June 5 in Johannesburg against Australia before opening World Cup group play June 12 against England in Rustenburg. They will then face Slovakia in Johannesburg June 18 and end June 25 with Algeria in Pretoria.

Here is the final 23-man US Men's National Team roster, listed by position and current team:

Rosana, Yael Averbuch and Natasha Kai returned for Women's Professional Soccer's defending champion Sky Blue FC as it beat an affiliate program, the Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues of the United Soccer Leagues W-League, in a 3-0 win at Hillburn, NY Tuesday.

The game was played over four, 30-minute quarters.

Sky Blue returns to WPS play as they host the Boston Breakers Saturday at Rutgers University.

The Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lsdy Blues are back playing against W-League's Long Island Rough Riders Sunday at Newburgh Free Academy.

Rubin Bega scored in the 55th minute off a Mauro Fuzetti assist and assisted on late goals by Stu Givens (83') and Andy Lorei (85') as the visiting Michigan Bucks outplayed the host Kalamazoo Outrage 3-1 Tuesday in United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League play at Loy Norrix High School.

Jon Rzepka gave the Outrage their only lead in the 10th minute as Anthony Colaizzi got a pass off for an eventual score.

The Bucks are now 2-1-0 with six points and tied for third place in the league's Central Conference, Heartland Division. Michigan plays the Cincinnait Kings at the annual Canton Cup tournament Saturday.

Kalamazoo is 0-3-0 and in last place in the division and will host the expansion Dayton Dutch Lions Sunday.

The United Soccer Leagues announced Tuesday the conditional acceptance of Barracuda FC of Antigua and Barbuda into the 2011 season of their USL First Division.

The USL First Division was forced to co-exist with the new North American Soccer League as the US Soccer Federation's Division 2 Pro League after both leagues failed to get certification from the federation for individual status for the 2010 season.

The league made the announcement Tuesday in the team's home city of St. Johns, Antigua, where they play in a 12,000-seat stadium.

Established as a professional team in 2008, the team will continue to compete in events such as the Carribean Football Union Club Championship and the CONCACAF Champions League.

As was the case when the Bermuda Hogges (now in the USL Premier Development League) and the Puerto Rico Islanders (now in USSF-D2) joined USL1, Barracuda's membership must be approved by FIFA, the USSF and the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association before ganing membership.

The US Men's National Team played Tuesday before the largest crowd ever to see a soccer game at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT -- 36,218 -- but fell 4-2 to the Czech Republic in the first game of a Send-Off Series before the US heads to South Africa to compete in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The game served as the last chance to impress head coach Bob Bradley enough to be named to the final 23-man roster for the World Cup, which will be announced live Wednesday afternoon on ESPN during the 1 p.m. ET hour of SportsCenter.

Despite resting many starters expected to be named to the team Wednesday, the US took a 1-0 lead after 17 minutes as Edson Buddle assisted Maurice Edu on a goal.

The Czech Republic evened the contest at 1-1 in the 44th minute as Jaroslav Plasil assisted Tomas Sivok, then doubled the lead in the 58th minute when Jan Polak scored on a Daneil Lafata assist.

The Americans tied the game at 2-2 in the 65th minute as Clarence Goodson launched a pass to Herculez Gomez, but Martin Fenin (78') and Tamas Necid (92') scored unassisted goals to spoil the party in East Hartford, CT.

After the US team is officially announced, the team heads to Philadelphia to final their final pre-World Cup game on American soil Saturday against Turkey, then heads to Johannesburg, South Africa prior to playing Australia in an exhibition June 5, a week before opening pool play June 12 against England.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

After starting the 2010 season 0-2-1 with a point and tied for last place in the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League's Southern Conference, Mid-South Division with the Houston Leones, the Rio Grande Valley Bravos fired head coach Ismael Moreira Garcia and his coaching staff and named Juan de Dios Garcia as head coach and Salvador Garcia and Everado Rodriguez Plata as assistant coaches.

The new staff officially debuts this weekend when the Bravos host the DFW Tornados Friday and the El Paso Patriots Saturday, both at Valley View Stadium in Brownsville, TX.

De Dios Garcia brings 47 years of playing and coaching experience to the Bravos, having served as the head coach of the Brownsvillle Hanna High School boys team since 1982, after graduating from the University of Texas-Pan American following the 1980-81 season.

He was a Mexican Third Division Pro player in the 1970's in Tamaulipas and coached Atletico Arsenal in Matamoros during the 1978-79 season.

Garcia formerly played for de Dios Garcia at Brownsville Hanna and is now the head coach at rival Brownsille Rivera High School.

Rodriguez Plata played for Club de Futbol Nueva Leon Jabatos and Rayados of Monterrey in Mexico's Primera Division from the mid-1970's to the mid-1980's.

Harrisburg City Islanders defender Dustin Bixler was named Tuesday the United Soccer Leagues Second Division Player of the Week for Week 6 of the 2010 season after scoring the first goal of his career in a 2-1 upset win at home over the league-leading Charleston Battery Saturday at Skyline Sports Complex.

Bixler assisted on a goal in his 93 previous game appearances.

Before Saturday, the City Islanders were winless in their first five games of the 2010 season and in their last 11, going back to the 2009 season, including a five-game losing streak to end the regular season and a loss in the playoffs.

Here are the other players who were named to the Week 6 USL2 Team Of The Week:

USL2 TEAM OF THE WEEKGOALKEEPERCorbin Waller, Charlotte EaglesHad six saves in scoreless draw at Real Maryland Monarchs

The Chicago Red Stars of Women's Professional Soccer announced Monday Emma Hayes has been fired as their head coach and director of operations and that an immediate search has begun to hire her replacement.

The Red Stars are currently 1-4-1 with four points and in seventh place in the eight-team, single-table league, with their next game set for Saturday at Toyota Park in Bridgewater, IL against the league-leading FC Gold Pride.

The organization did not announce the naming of an interim head coach at this time.

The NSC Minnesota Stars of the USSF Division 2 Pro League announced the signings Monday of two South American midfielders -- Geison Moura and Lucas Rodriguez.

Moura, born in Sao Caetano, Sao Paulo, Brazil, made his debut in Saturday's 1-0 loss to the Miami FC Blues and played 64 minutes. He has been training with the Stars since April.

After many years playing internationally, Moura moved to the US in 2007 and joined the New Jersey Ironmen of the Major Indoor Soccer League, where he scored two goals in nine games that season. He then joined the Rockford Rampage for the 2008-09 season.

Rodriguez, from Buenos Aires, Argentina, was a four-time National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics All-American at Mid America Nazarene University in Olathe, KS. He also played in the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League for the Kansas City Brass between college seasons.

Oscar Aguero scored goals in the 78th and 83rd minute to lock up a 4-1 win for his Orange County Blue Star over the visiting Southern California Seahorses Sunday in United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League play at Concordia University.

Amani Walker and Chandler Hoffman added goals for Orange County in the victory.

Southern California had the lead in the 23rd minute when Akaki Chkhikvadze assisted on a Ryan Shaw goal.

The Blue Star are in second place in the Western Conference, Southwest Division at 2-0-3 with nine points, three points behind the defending PDL champion Ventura County Fusion (4-1-0, 12). Orange County hosts the Los Angeles Legends June 4.

The Seahorses, 2-3-0 with six points, are tied with the Lancaster Rattlers (1-1-3) for fourth place in the standings and hosts the BYU Cougars Saturday.

Mark Mjessouho scored two goals in a late 10-minute span on the second half as the New Hampshire Phantoms shut out the Brooklyn Knights 3-0 Sunday in United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League play at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Oval.

Daniel Hernandez opened the scoring for the Phantoms on an 18th minute strike.

The Phantoms evened their record to 1-1-1 with four points and are tied with the Western Mass Pioneers (same) for fourth place in the Eastern Conference, Northeast Division. New Hampshire wiill host the expansion MPS Portland Phoenix Saturday.

Brooklyn is winless in its first three games of the season and host the returning Vermont Voltage June 5.

Samsideen Badjie scored the game-winning goal in the 43rd minute and gave the host Atlanta Blackhawks a 2-1 victory over the expansion Fort Lauderdale Schulz Academy in United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League play Sunday at Alpharetta High School.

Ryan Maloney put the Blackhawks on top at the half-hour mark but, two minutes later, Gabriel Robledo evened the score for the Academy.

The Blackhawks lead the Southern Conference, Southeast Division at 2-0-2 with eight points while Fort Lauderdale is winless at 0-4-0 and in last place in the division.

John Bayron Sosa was successful on a 57th minute penalty kick that caused the host Central Florida Kraze to play to a 1-1 United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League draw Sunday against the Mississippi Brilla at Showalter Stadium in Winter Park, FL.

Mississippi scored three minutes into the game on a Paul Willoughby goal.

The Brilla are 2-0-1 with seven points and are in second place in the Southern Conference, Southeast Division, and are a point behind the Atlanta Blachawks (2-0-2, eight) for the division lead. Mississippi welcomes the Nashville Metros to town Saturday.

The Kraze, 1-0-1 with four points, are tied for fourth place in the division with the Metros and the IMG Bradenton Academics, both of whom hold 1-2-1 records. Central Florida hosts the Blackhawks Thursday, then has a Memorial Day road date with the new Fort Lauderdale Schulz Academy.

Scott Jordan and Jared Wooley assisted Brandon Chagnard on goals in the 33rd and 90th minute as the Baton Rouge Capitals shut out the Nashville Metros 2-0 in United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League play Sunday from Nashville's Siegel Park.

These two teams will meet again June 6 at Olympia Stadium in Baton Rouge.

Before then, the Metros, 1-2-1 with four points and tied wth the IMG Bradenton Academics (same) and the Central Florida Kraze for last place in the Southern Conference, Southwest Division, will travel to the Mississippi Brilla this Saturday.

Baton Rouge is 1-0-2 with five points and holds onto third place in the division.

Kenny Krazz and Jarius Holnes scored first-half goals to lead the St. Louis Lions to a 2-1 United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League victory against the Rochester Thunder 1-0 Sunday at Rochester Community Technical College in Rochester, NY.

Christian Fernandez gave Rochester their only goal in the 44th minute.

The Lions are 1-2-0 with three points and tied for fourth place in the Central Conference, Heartland Division with the Kansas City Brass (1-3-0). St. Louis hosts the Springfield Demize Saturday.

Rochester is 2-1-1 with four points and are in third place in the division. They will host the Thunder Bay Chill June 5.

Dominic Reinold had two goals and Samson Malijani posted the first point of the game as the New Jersey Rangers edged the Northern Virginia Royals 3-2 in a United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League road win at Hellwig Memorial Field Stadium.

James Shannon and James Davin had goals for the Royals.

New Jersey is in third place in the Eastern Conference, Mid-Atlantic Division at 3-1-0 with nine points, three behind the co-leading Reading United AC and Ironbound Express, both 4-0-0 with 12 points. The Rangers host the Central Jersey Spartans June 2.

Northern Virginia is 0-2-1 with a point and tied with the Spartans (same), Hampton Roads Piranhas (same) and the Carolina Dynamo (0-1-1) for last place in the division. The Royals host the Dynamo Saturday.

Harris Seferovic scored in the 63rd minute off a Stevan Jovetic assist and Fiorentina of Italy's Serie A played to a 1-1 draw to the Montreal Impact of the USSF Division 2 Pro League in an exhibition game Sunday at Saputo Stadium in Montreal.

Reda Agourram scored an unassisted goal for the Impact in the eighth minute to give them the lead.

The Impact are also set to play exhibition games against another Serie A team, AC Milan, June 2 at Olympic Stadium in Montreal and Antigua's Barracuda FC September 4 at Saputo Stadium.

Inter Milan, who won their first UEFA Champions League Sunday since 1965 in a 2-0 win over Bayern Munich in Madrid, will take on Major League Soccer's FC Dallas in an exhibition August 5 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, TX, the MLS team announced Monday.

Jeremy Hall (50'), Conor Chinn (55') and Juan Pablo Angel (75') scored goals to lead Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls to a 3-1 victory over Juventus of Italy's Serie A Sunday in an exhibition at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ.

Amauri scored Juventus' single point in the 90th minute.

The Red Bulls return to league play Saturday when they travel to the New England Revolution Saturday.

Tristan Bowen and Mike Magee assisted Michael Stephens on the only goal of the game as Major League Soccer's best team this season -- the Los Angeles Galaxy -- defeated Argentina's Boca Juniors, one of their top teams, in a Sunday exhibition at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.

The Galaxy, who lead the league and the Western Conference, are preparing for a showdown Saturday at Crew Stadium against the current Eastern Conference leader, the Columbus Crew.

Columbus Crew reserve forward Emilio Renteria was named Major League Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 9 of the 2010 season Monday after scoring goals off the bench -- and his first two of the season -- in their last two road wins, a 3-1 win over the New York Red Bulls Thursday and a 1-0 win over the Kansas City Wizards Saturday.

Renteria played in five games last season as a substitute after arriving with the Crew. In 2010, he has yet to start a game.

Fortuna Velaj scored goals off Julie Lancos (19') and Julia Bouchelle (46') as the host Washington Freedom Futures of the United Soccer Leagues W-League shut out the New Jersey Rangers in Washington's season opener Sunday at the Maryland SoccerPlex.

Julia Roberts took a pass from Omolyn Davis in the 32nd minute to clinch the win for the Futures.

The Rangers (1-1-0, three points) are in a tie for the Eastern Conference, Northeast Division with the Freedom Futures and the defending regular season league champion Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues, each at 1-0-0 with three points.

The Futures next play against the New Jersey Wildcats Thursday at the SoccerPlex.

The Rangers are now off until June 5 when they meet the expansion North Jersey Valkyries.

Jaime Calvo scored the lone goal of the game unassisted in the 85th minute as the Fresno Fuego upset the defending United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League champion Ventura County Fusion 1-0 at Buena High School Sunday.

Despite the loss, which ended a four-game win streak to open the 2010 season, the Fusion lead the Western Conference, Southwest Division with a 4-1-0 record and 12 points. They will next host the Hollywood United Hitmen Friday.

Fresno improved to 2-2-2 with eight points and is tied with the Los Angeles Legends (same) for third place in the division. The Fuego next play June 6 at Orange County Blue Star.

However, the Fuego host the Fusion in a return game June 10 at Chukchansi Park.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Emilio Renteria scored the only goal of the game in the 64th minute off a Guillermo Barros Schelotto corner kick as the Columbus Crew remains undefeated on the 2010 Major League Soccer season after a 1-0 win over the Kansas City Wizards Sunday at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

The Crew, who lead the Eastern Conference at 6-0-2 with 20 points, have won four games in the last 15 days, including their two recent road games, which were separated by three days. They will next face the defending league champion Real Salt Lake this Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, UT.

Kansas City, meanwhile, extended their losing streak to six games and are 2-4-2 with eight points, tying them with the New England Revolution (2-6-2) for fifth place in the conference standings. The Wizards will host the league's best team this season, the Los Angeles Galaxy, next Saturday.

Gabriela Demonzer had an unassisted goal in the fourth minute of play and assisted Jackie Acevado on a 76th minute play to lead the defending United Soccer Leagues W-League regular season champion Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues to a 3-1 road victory against the Long Island Rough Riders Saturday to open their 2010 season.

Acevado also scored a goal in the 46th minute in the win.

Both teams meet again next Sunday, this time at Newburgh Free Academy.

Mark Lee scored an unassisted goal two minutes into the game and Cameron Hepple assisted David Gray on a 59th minute goal as the Kitsap Pumas defeated the expansion Washington Crossfire 2-0 Saturday in United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League play at Bremerton High Schhol in Bremerton, WA.

The win forces the Pumas to be part of a three-way longjam of undefeated teams -- all 4-0-0 with 12 points -- at the top of the Western Conference, Northwest Division race with the expansion Victoria Highlanders and the Portland Timbers U-23s.

Kitsap plays this Saturday at home against the Abbotsford Mariners.

The new Crossfire are 0-2-0 in the debut, tied with the Tacoma Tide (same) and the Yakima Reds and Spokane Spiders (both 0-3-0) for last place in the division. They host the Reds in Yakima, WA next Sunday.

Cristian Zamora scored unassisted goals in the fourth and 59th minute to lead the host El Paso Patriots to a 3-0 shutout of the Houston Leones Saturday in United Soccer Leagues Premier Devleopment League play Saturday.

Edga Mendoza also scored for El Paso off a Mariano Sapien assist in the 12th minute.

The Patriots are 2-1-1 with seven points and are tied for second with the DFW Tornados (2-0-1) in the Southern Conference, Mid-South Division. They will be on the road for their next two games -- this Friday at the Laredo Heat and this Saturday at the Rio Grande Valley Bravos.

Houston, 0-2-1 with a point and tied for third with the Bravos (same) for last place in the division, host the Tornados next Sunday.

Alex Grendi had an unaasisted goal in the 76th minute and it stood up as the host Long Island Rough Riders beat the New Hampshire Phantoms 1-0 Saturday in United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League play from MacArthur High School.

The Rough Riders own the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, Northeast Division at 3-0-0 with nine points, putting them one behind the Albany BWP Highlanders (3-0-1, 10). Long Island will face the Westchester Flames in a two-game series set for this Saturday and June 2.

New Hampshire is tied with the Flames at 0-1-1 with a point for sixth place in the division. The Phantoms next face the Brooklyn Knights this Sunday.

Brendan Gorman had a hat trick and James Curley added another goal as the host and expansion Albany BWP Highlanders retained the top spot in the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League's Eastern Conference, Northeast Division with a 4-3 victory over the Brooklyn Knights in Saturday action from Albany's Frank Bailey Stadium.

The Highlanders are 3-0-1 with 10 points and will host the returning Vermont Voltage June 4.

Kyle Hoffer, Javier Gonzalez and Nicolas Garcia scored goals for Brooklyn, who are 0-2-0 in the division and host the New Hampshire Phantoms Sunday and the Western Mass Pioneers this Friday.

Domenic Barone scored on a 76th minute penalty kick to lead the Chicago Fire to a 1-0 victory Saturday over the Indiana Invaders in United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League play at the Invaders' soccer complex.

The Fire are 2-0-0 with six points and are in second place in the Central Conference, Great Lakes Division, one point behind the expansion Dayton Dutch Lions (2-0-1, seven). Chicago will next host the Cincinnati Kings Tuesday at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, IL before traveling to the Cleveland Internationals this Saturday.

The Invaders, at 1-1-0 with three points, are in a three-way for fourth in the division with the Michigan Bucks (same record) and the Internationals (1-2-0). Indiana will host the Kalamazoo Outrage next Sunday.

Ashleigh Gunning fired off two goals to lead the Charlotte Lady Eagles of the United Soccer Leagues W-League to a 5-0 rout of the host Hampton Roads Piranhas Saturday at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex.

Rachel Yepez had a goal and an assist in the victory and Christine Rife and Hannah Swift both scored goals.

Charlotte is 1-0-1 with four points and in second place in the Eastern Conference, Atlantic Division, two points behind the Atlanta Silverbacks (2-0-0, six). They next face the Tampa Bay Hellenic at the Ed Radice Soccer Complex June 4.

Hampton Roads is 0-2-1 with a point, is in fourth place in the division, and host the Silverbacks next Sunday.

Alexa Newfield has a goal and two assists, Megan Tominson scored and assisted on a goal and Courtney Foster added another point to the scoreboard as the host Atlanta Silverbacks beat the Tampa Bay Hellenic 3-0 Saturday in United Soccer Leagues W-League play at Silverbacks Park.

The Silverbacks are 2-0-0 with six points, lead the Eastern Conference, Atlantic Division, and will play at the Northern Virginia Majestics May 29.

Tampa Bay is now 1-1-0 with three points, is in third place in the division, and is off until June 4 when they host the Charlotte Lady Eagles at the Ed Radice Soccer Complex.

Katie Ryan had a pair of goals and Merrilynn Esteve had a third as they led the New Jersey Rangers to a 3-1 victory over the host New York Magic in United Soccer Leagues W-League play Saturday at Iona College.

Amanda Popoli had the Magic's lone goal of the game.

The Rangers are 2-0-0 with six points and lead the Eastern Conference, Northeast Division. They will take on the Washington Freedom Futures Sunday at the Maryland SoccerPlex.

The Magic are 0-2-0 and in last place. They will face the Long Island Rough Riders next Saturday at Iona College.

Andres Bueno scored the game's only goal unassisted in the 34th minute as the Lancaster Rattlers shut out the host BYU Cougars 1-0 Saturday in United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League play at BYU's South Field in Provo, UT.

The Rattlers are 1-1-3 with six points and in a three-way tie for third in the Western Conference, Southwest Division race with the Orange County Blue Star (1-0-3) and the Southern California Seahorses (2-2-0). They are now off until June 5 when their season resumes at the Hollywood United Hitmen.

BYU is in last place in the division at 0-2-1 with one point and head to the Seahorses this Saturday.

Jordie Hughes had a hat trick and brother Tyler Hughes added a goal, along with Jamar Dixon, as the host Victoria Highlanders blasted the Abbotsford Mariners 5-1 in United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League play from Bear Mountain Stadium in Victoria, British Columbia.

The Highlanders, at 4-0-0 and 12 points, are tied for the lead in the Western Conference, Northwest Division with the Kitsap Pumas, who share an identical record. They will next face the Portland Timbers U-23s on the road Saturday.

Abbotsford is 0-1-1 with a point and are tied for fourth place in the division with the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency and travel to the Pumas this Saturday.

Craig Thompson had a hat trick and Alex Tarnoczi added another goal as the host Real Colorado Foxes thumped the Kansas City Brass 4-0 in United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League play Saturday at Shea Stadium.

The Foxes improve their record to 2-1-2 with eight points, good for second place in the Central Conference, Heartland Division, one behind the Des Moines Menace (3-1-0, nine points).

Arturo Ivo and Bryce Taylor scored goals as the DFW Tornados blew through Pennington Field in Dallas and cooled off the Laredo Heat 2-1 in United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League play Saturday.

Carlos Ordaz scored initally in the fifth minute for Dallas, but Pablo Da Silva assisted on Ivo's 21st minute play and Christopher Ross did so on Taylor's 74th minute goal.

The Tornados are 2-0-1 with seven points and are tied for second place in the Southern Conference, Mid-South Division with the El Paso Patriots (2-1-1), two points behind the division-leading West Texas United Sockers (3-2-0, nine). Dallas will travel to Brownsville, TX to face the Rio Grande Valley Bravos Friday.

Laredo is 2-2-0 with six points and is in fourth place in the conference. They will host the El Paso Patriots this Friday at Patriots Field.

Logan McDaniel had an unassisted goal in the 53rd minute as Stephen Okai assisted Lebogang Molato on a goal two minutes later to give the host Des Moines Menace a 2-1 defeat of the St. Louis Lions in United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League play Saturday at Valley Stadium in West Des Moines, IA.

Des Moines leads the Central Conference, Heartland Division at 3-1-0 with nine points and host the Kansas City Brass this Saturday.

St. Louis, who opened the scoring in the 24th minute when Aaron Brittain assisted Bryan Harris on the first goal. They are 0-2-0 and last in the division, but they travel to the Rochester Thunder Sunday.

In a three-minute span of the second half, Tristan Sommerville scored a goal off a Ciutlahuac Meza assist (47') and assisted Joseph Hickman in putting up a point (50') as the host Ogden Outlaws earned their first United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League victory of the 2010 season 2-1 over the Los Angeles Legends at Bonneville High School Saturday.

Rodolfo Sandoval scored the lone goal for the Legends in the 74th minute.

The Outlaws are 1-2-1 with four points and are in eighth place in the Western Conference, Southwest Division standings and will travel to the Orange County Blue Star June 12.

The Legends are 2-2-2 with eight points, are in second place in the division, and face the defending league champion Ventura County Fusion on the road Friday.

Christopher Whalley and Richard Johnson scored unassisted goals in the final six minute of play Sunday as the host West Virginia Chaos defeated the expansion Central Jersey Spartans 2-0 Saturday in United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League play at Schoenbaum Stadium.

The Chaos are 1-3-0 with three points and are in fourth place in the Eastern Conference, Mid-Atlantic Divsion. West Virginia hosts the Ocean City Nor'Easters June 12.

Central Jersey is 0-2-1 with a point and tied the the Northern Virginia Royals and Carolina Dynamo (both with an identical record) and the Hampton Roads Piranhas (0-2-1). The Spartans host the Nor'Easters this Wednesday.

Luke Mulholland had an unassisted goal six miinutes into the game, then assisted Raymon Gaddis on a 84th minute goal, and Eric Detzel assisted on goals from Eric Schonele (52') and Matthw Hedges (58) as the Reading United FC took a 4-0 victory on the road from the Carolina Dynamo in United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League action.

The United, formerly the Rage, are 4-0-0 with 12 points and are tied for the lead with Ironbound Express for the best record in the Eastern Conference, Mid-Athletic Division and will head to Bermuda Friday to face the new Bermunda Hogges.

The Dynamo are 0-1-1 with a point and are tied for sixth in this division with the expansion Central Jersey Spartans (0-1-1), Northern Virginia Royals (0-1-1) and the Hampton Roads Piranhas (0-2-1), who Carolina takes on May 30.

Aaron Atkins fired off a game-winning goal in the 72nd minute as the Cleveland Internationals got past the host Cincinnati Kings 3-2 in United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League play at the Town & Country Sports Complex in Fairfield, KY Saturday.

Matt Horth (15') and Ryse Daniels (52') scored for the Internationals, now 1-2-0 with three points and tied for fourth place in the Central Conference, Great Lakes Division standings with the Michigan Bucks and the Indiana Invaders (both at 1-1-0).

Bradley Barradough scored both of Cleveland's goals in the 49th and 57th minute of the game and the Internationals are 1-2-1 with four points and third in the division.

Both teams get the Chicago Fire Premier next on their schedule -- this Tuesday for the Kings and next Saturday for the Internationals.

Maurice Hughes' goal in the 38th minute led to a 1-1 draw between the visiting Northern Virginia Royals and the host Ocean City Nor'Easters in United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League play at Carey Stadium Saturday.

Ocean City wasted little time putting up their first goal, from Alex Weidman in the third minute of the game.

The Royals are 0-1-1 with a point and tied for sixth in the Eastern Conference, Mid-Atlantic Division with the Carolina Dynamo (0-1-1), the Hampton Roads Pirahnas (0-2-1) and the Central Jersey Spartans (0-2-1) and host the New Jersey Rangers this Sunday.

Ocean City is 0-1-2 with two points and is in fifth place in the divisional standings. The former Barons franchise will head to the expansion Central Jersey Spartans Wednesday for their next game.

Dominic Reinold scored a goal in the 63rd minute off a Steven Keker assist as the New Jersey Rangers took the teeth out of the host Hampton Roads Piranhas in a 1-0 United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League win at the Virginia Beach Sportsplex Saturday.

New Jersey is 2-1-0 with six points and in third place in the Eastern Conference, Mid-Atlantic Division. The Rangers will next play at the Northern Virginia Royals Sunday.

Hampton Roads is 0-2-1 with a point and is tied for fifth in the conference with the Central Jersey Spartans (0-2-1), Carolina Dynamo (0-1-1) and the Royals (0-1-1). They head to the Dynamo May 30.

Tyler Reinhardt's goal with two minutes to play caused the Fresno Fuego to play the host Hollywood United Hitmen to a 3-3 draw Saturday in United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League play at Palisades High School Saturday.

After a scoreless first half, Milton Blanco put Fresno on the board in the 51st minute before Hollywood would quickly counter for the draw four minutes later, then took a 3-1 lead off a Jamie Chavis goal in the 68th minute and an Edward Miranda goal in the 71st.

Fabricio Codeceira cut the deficit to one goal in the 77th minute before Reinhardt's strike.

Both teams share a 1-2-2 record with five points, good for sixth place in the Western Conference, Southwest Division, and share a common road opponent for their next game -- the defending league champion Ventura County Fusion.

Fresno gets them first this Friday, followed by an appearance from the Fusion this Friday.

Dustin Bixler and Nicholas Zimmerman scored goals to lead the host Harrisburg City Islanders to a 2-1 upset of the United Soccer Leagues Second Division-leading Charleston Battery Saturday at Skyline Sports Complex in Harrisburg, PA.

Abby Wambach scored on a 29th minute penalty kick and a 63rd minute goal off Lori Lindsey, as well as assisted Kristine Liily on her 62nd minute play as the world number one ranked US Women's National Team continued their warmup to the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany by defeating the world number two ranked country 4-0 Saturday in an exhibition game at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, OH.

Randy Patterson scored the game-winning goal in second-half stoppage time as Crystal Palace Baltimore slipped past the Portland Timbers 2-1 Saturday in USSF Division 2 Pro League play at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.

Portland took the early lead on Ryan Pore's league-leading seventh goal of the season on a 60th minute penalty kick, but Baltimore tied the game in the 74th minute before Patterson's shot.

Crystal Palace is 3-4-1 with 10 points and in third place in the NASL Conference, one point behind the Montreal Impact (3-1-2, 11) for second and two behind the Vancouver Whitecaps (3-1-3, 12) for the conference lead. They will host the USL Conference-leading Austin Aztex Saturday.

Portland is 3-3-2 with 11 points and tied with the Rochester Rhinos for third place in the USL Conference with an identical record. The slumping Timbers are off until June 6 when they host the Carolina RailHawks June 6 at PGE Park.

Cornelius Stewart (17') and Greg Janicky (52') scored goals to lead the host Vancouver Whitecaps to a 2-0 shut out of the Rochester Rhinos in USSF Division 2 Pro League action Saturday at Swangard Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The same teams meet this Saturday at Marina Auto Stadium in Rochester.

Vancouver leads the NASL Conference at 3-1-3 with 12 points while the Rhinos, at 3-3-2 and 11 points, are tied with the Portland Timbers (same) and the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies (3-1-2), and are three points behind the Austin Aztex (4-1-2, 14).

It was the Blues' first win after playing to five weeks of draws, improving their record to 1-0-5 with eight points, good for fourth place in the NASL Conference. Miami will next host the Austin Aztex Wednesday.

NSC is 2-6-1 with six points and are tied for last in the USL Conference with the Puerto Rico Islanders (2-0-1). The Stars travel to the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies Thursday.

Long Tan assisted on Pascal Millen's goal in the 37th minue and scored on a last-minute penalty kick as the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies shut out host AC St. Louis 3-0 in USSF Division 2 Pro League play at the Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park in Fenton, MO Saturday.

Kwame Adjeman-Pamboe also posted a goal off a Takuya Yamada assist in the 64th minute.

Tampa Bay is currently 3-1-2 with 12 points, good for second place in the USL Conference, two points behind the Austin Aztex (4-1-2, 14). The Rowdies host the NSC Minnesota Stars Thursday at Steinbrenner Field.

St. Louis is in last place of the NASL Conference at 1-6-1 and has the worst record in USSF D-2. They will be at the Stars Saturday at the National Soccer Center in Blaine, MN.

Fabian Espindola scored the game-winning goal in the 89th minute as defending Major League Soccer champion Real Salt Lake edged host Chivas USA 2-1 Saturday at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA to extend their winning streak to four games.

Chris Wingert added a goal for RSL and Chivas saw Justin Braun given them their only point.

RSL is 5-3-1 with 16 points and in a tie for second place in the Western Conference with the San Jose Earthquakes (5-2-1) and the Houston Dynamo (5-4-1). They will host the Kansas City Wizards this Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Chivas is in the Western Conference cellar at 3-6-1 with 10 points and will travel to play the worst team in the Eastern Conference and the league, DC United, at RFK Stadium Saturday.

About Me

I have over 30 years of experience in all forms of the media -- broadcast, print, electronic and Internet -- and have spent over seven years covering sports. I now work as a media relations specialist in Battle Creek, MI.